Brazil central bank holds interest rate at 14.25 pct

BRASILIA, Sept 2 (Reuters) - Brazil's central bank halted one of the world's boldest rate-hiking cycles on Wednesday, giving a breather to an economy in recession despite fears a fiscal crisis could stoke high inflation.

In a unanimous vote, the central bank's monetary policy committee, known as Copom, kept its benchmark Selic rate at 14.25 percent, a nine-year high and still the highest among the world's top 10 economies. An overwhelming majority of economists expected policymakers to keep interest rates unchanged after seven consecutive hikes. (Reporting by Alonso Soto; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)